Packboard



ay 27, 1947. o. c. DAIBER 1 2,421,244

PACKB OARD Filed Oct. 26, 1945 INVEOR A TTORNE Y loosen the fastenings. itary has required a packboard that can be fur- Patented May 27, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT omen PACKBOARD Ome C.Daiber, Seattle, Wash. 7 Application October 26, 1943, Serial No. 507,715

' This invention relates to a packboard useful in the support of loads to be carried and, more particularly, to a demountable frame construction system for load carriers for the human body. Knapsacks have been widely used by trappers, foresters, sportsmen and outdoorsmen to transport upon their backs heavy and bulky loads. To the improvement of the art of carrying articles about the body, certain innovators devised frames about which they place canvas or web coverings to cushion the frame from the back and to permit the attachment or accommodations of various articles or for the support of pockets in which articles might be stowed. Most of these frames -have. been of a type that, once assembled, comprise a permanent structure. Those capable of disassembly have been complicated to knock down in addition to requiring the use of tools to More recently, the milnished in disassembled conditon in a compact bundle for storage in a small space and which can be quickly assembled into a strong rigid structure with the minimum requirements of skill.

Having in mind the defects of the prior art packboards, it is an important object of this invention to provide a packboard and frame therefor that is easily assembled without requiring skill or tools to do so.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a packboard of the type described which, in use, is self tensioning or tightening without requiring the attention of the user.

A further object of this invention is to provide a, packboard frame tightening element which will constantly serve to maintain the parts of a frame in proper and tight association.

The foregoing objects and other ancilliary thereto I prefer to accomplish as follows:

According to a preferred embodiment of my invention, I provide a frame which comprises a Pair of side rails that in use are normally positioned in an upright manner. Each of the rails has a series of sockets in matching relation for the reception of the ends of certain cross bars disposed between the side rails. The cross bars are curved to provide some resiliency in the frame and also to permit the arch members to be positioned away from a persons back. Preferably the length of the cross bars decrease from bottom to top of the series to such an extent that the side rails tend to converge in upward extension and the assembled frame is tapered in at least one dimension. A sheath of fabric material is provided to slide over the frame from the top downward. The shape of the sheath conforms in taper in the converging shape of the frame. The sheath is in effect an envelope to cover both faces as well as the sides of the frame and may be open at .top andbottom. That portion of the sheath 3 Claims. (01. 224-25) ly ingadiacent the inner curved face of the frame rests upon a persons back and the other is stretched across the curved faces of the cross rails to serve to support a load directly applied thereto or to carry a pouch as shown in the drawings for the reception of certain articles to be carried. 4

A pair of shoulder straps are secured to the up permost cross rail and extend through an opening provided therefor in the sheath. The straps loop to encircle the shoulders and are anchored on their lower ends to the side rails. In certain instance the shoulder straps are anchored through the lower ends of the side rails to the lower portions of the sheath to draw the same downward and thereby increase the tightening action of the same upon the frame.

The novel features that I consider characteristic of myinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.

The invention itself, however, both as to organization and its method of assembly, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a face view of the frame of my packboard, a

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the plane indicated by line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the assembled packboard, sheath and a packsa-ck thereon,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a disassembled frame and sheath as it appears bundled for stowage Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a lower corner of the sheath and pouch thereand Figure 6 is a. cross-sectional view showing in detail the mode of attaching the shoulder straps to a cross bar of the frame.

A packboard construction to overcome the'defects hereinbefore enumerated must have at least two totally distinct characteristics; it must be capable of carrying extreme loads with ease and comfort for the user; and must also provide a structure that is easy to assemble or disassemble without tools or fastenings and yet be rigidly compacted at all times. Accordingly, a preferred embodiment of the invention, referring to Figure cross bar It has an intermediate slot 22 for the attachment of shoulder straps 24, 26 in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 6 where, it will appear, the two strap ends emanate from a loop 28 that is inserted through slot 22 from the convex face thereof and 'is engaged by pin 30 which lies against the concave face of bar Hi to restrain the loop 28 from being withdrawn. The two strap ends pass under the lower edge of bar l6-f-r0m where they extend outward from the frame to engage a persons shoulders.

The length of the bars L6, 18 and 23 increases from the former to the latter so that when they are properly seated in their respective sockets in the side rails I0, 62 ,these latter members are positioned .with relation to .each other in an up- ;wardly converging manner illustrated in Figures zhandfi- I :Qnce assembled-as described, the irameis eneased from the top d wnward in a tapered Qfabgri sheaths: ,whichdsstretchedtaut by the frame so that .one panel 3.4 spans the concave side-of 4 1; irarne and forms ;a resilient web to rest upon a arriers back. The other panel 35 coversthe convex face of the frame and, as )here shown,

supports a pouch 3B useful to stow articles to be t nsported. The numeral Ail ,designates draw- ;s ings for the pouch and ,the nap 42 serves to cover the upper gathered end of a packed .pouch.

11 each-of the lower corners of the panel 36 is attached a strap 44 which .passes through an .opening 48 in the lower end of ,a side rail H] or t; ;a nd extends up for engagement with arbuckle 155 en the end of either shoulder strap 2-4 or .26.

Barrel gid-has-an opening 48 therethroughnear the supper edge ,to permit the straps 24 '26 to h ssou w td f om Wi h hthe s a h ,forsh uld ree h anu e e Widen th bac ward i e em le as described and a load is placed in the pouchithe packboard is :re dy ir i eii :u ed an tende cy the frame to further compact is accompanied by a cor espondi d w ar shi 1 th sh h 32 which in conse qnence js also ;made more taut. Anyitendeney 0f th load d n e sh ah t T1111 downdromtthe-shoulders produces a;pu1l-u p on the shoulder straps 24 '25 as we ano t str 44, M which thereupon will tend to draw the sheath downward in a tighter manner. It will no doub be eco nized that-thi ehs en'me of the sheath due o t e fo ces 0n ia y Wo i upon it during use serves to constantly compress th name if it should loo en-d 'wd yihep l 0f the wooden parts or deeper seating of the eross bar ends in their respentivets qkets.

When :the r me i :to e s mb ed and the sheath removed, the straps 24, 2.5 are slipped through the hQIeAB, str ps ar withd wn fr times 16, and the sheath is a s d fr m e los the atram 1302621905 the a t r t t a :thhet ycrcss bars and side rails are separated from each other whereupon they may be bundled and wrapped imma-compae packa e as hown-in i eure 4.

From t e :ioresoi is i ca be s en th my backboa d zhhn flliucl dh end tself W l tQ-simp e woodworkin pra tices in th n net o 0 the .trame parts; that it is -easily assembled Wit out reliance upon fasteners pr Joining members; :that :it held {in assembled condition SQlel-y by the sheath which .also serve a a me ns ifor suppontinga carrying :pouch or iother similar means;

and that 2thesheathtin its action 1111011 11116 frame .-use is one of constantly di htening the :parts of the irame together.

Although I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, I am fully aware .that many modifications thereof are possible. My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar :as is necessitated by the prior art-and'by'the spirit of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A packboard, comprising: cross members of different lengths, a pair of side members having ockets detachably receiving the ends of said cross members; the shorter of said cross members be- ,inguppermost and the longer being lowermost in their'engagement with the side members whereby the latter are spaced apart in an upwardly converging manner; said cross members and side; members rmin -a r me; imeansas o iated with l a fram 0 -1 u por i eth ameiup n heiback ,ea r; ian iamundsaid em hailead-ear yins-sheath sha d e fi h co ve eine r an ee e e i e mem rs. a d whendrawndo n the eo to ol -th e snf said press membe s soclreted insaid side members.

1 ba kboard om is n zthi a n ea sr s difie entlleneths ama rroiis de memwment withzthe side members whereby sthe datter are spaced aphrtinanupwardly convergingzmanmen; said Spreaders and side members :forming a gtrame; means associated with said frame to the conca e side :of said spreaders for supporting :the sameiupontheiback of a carrier; and around :said frame, ;3, dead-carrying sheath :shaped ;to fit the convergingiarrangement'ofitheside:members,;and when drawn down thereon, i hold the {ends of said :sprea'ders interfitted with said .side :members.

3. .A packgboard, comprising: iaipairofgspreaders of difierent :lengths, a :pairofside members having interi-ltting detachable. joinder 'with :the ends of said 'spreaders'; :the shorter of .said spreaders ibeing (uppermost and the longer of said spreaders being lowermost in their engagement with the side members whereby the latter are spaced apart in an aupwardly converging manner; said spreaders and side tmembers donning a frame; :around said frame a load-carrying .sheathshaped to fit the :cqnverging arrangementsof the'sidemembers; and when .tautened :thereon, :to hold the Lends :of said spreadersiinterfitted iwith-saidside members; and shoulder straps having their upper ends :at- ;tached .to said frame and their-lower ends passed in under .a .-.portion of said Lframe and secured to I said sheath to ,act .as azdown-ihaul therefor.

The following references are of record in the file .of this patent:

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